Phaethon

In Greek mythology, Phaethon was the son of the sun god Helios and the sea
nymph
Clymene. Phaethon's friends teased him because they did not believe that
the sun was his father. Phaethon journeyed to Helios's palace to determine
the truth. Helios replied that he was Phaethon's father and promised to
grant his son a wish.

nymph
minor goddess of nature, usually represented as young and beautiful

Phaethon asked to drive his father's chariot across the sky. Helios tried
to discourage Phaethon, for no one except the sun could control the horses
that pulled the chariot. However, Phaethon did not listen to the warning
and insisted on driving the chariot. Helios could not take back his
promise, so he let the youth take the reins. Soon after the chariot rose
into the sky, Phaethon lost control of the horses, causing the sun to come
too near the earth and burn it. To stop further destruction, Zeus* killed
Phaethon with a thunderbolt, and the boy fell into the Eridanus River.
Phaethon's sisters mourned for him so much that they turned into poplar
trees on the banks of the river, and the tears they shed hardened into
drops of amber.

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